BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 536

By: Phillips

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Although the Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) currently is authorized to issue a deer breeder's permit that is valid for more than one year, the department to date has issued only permits that are valid for one year and none that is valid for a longer period. C.S.H.B. 536 provides that, at the option of the applicant for an original or renewal deer breeder's permit, TPWD may issue such a permit for one year, three years, or five years, making a three-year or five-year permit available only to a person who agrees to submit the permit holder's required annual reports electronically.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Parks and Wildlife Commission in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 536 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to provide three options for the duration of an original or renewal deer breeder's permit, authorizing the Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to issue such a permit that is valid for one year, three years, or five years, rather than a permit that is valid for longer than one year, and to specify that the permit period is at the option of the applicant. The bill makes a three-year or five-year permit available only to a person who agrees to submit the permit holder's required annual reports electronically. The bill authorizes the Parks and Wildlife Commission to adopt rules allowing TPWD to terminate a permit before the date originally specified for the permit issuance or renewal if the permit holder fails to submit the annual reports electronically as required for a three-year or five-year permit.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2011.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 536 differs from the original by authorizing the Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to issue a deer breeder's permit for one year, three years, or five years, rather than one year or five years as in the original. The substitute contains a provision not included in the original making a three-year or five-year permit available only to a person who agrees to submit the permit holder's required annual reports electronically.

C.S.H.B. 536 contains a provision not included in the original authorizing the Parks and Wildlife Commission to adopt rules allowing TPWD to terminate a permit before the date originally specified for the permit issuance or renewal if the permit holder fails to submit the annual reports electronically as required for a three-year or five-year permit.